Abstract

In the recent past different elements have been laser-cooled and captured in magneto-optical traps (MOT’s). Whereas the trapping conditions of alkalis and metastable rare gases have been studied intensively the trapping of alkaline-earth atoms (Mg, Ca, Sr) has been realized only by a few groups^1,2,3 Nevertheless alkaline-earth atoms are interesting candidates for studies on laser- manipulated atoms because of their J=0->J=1 cooling transition and their narrow intercombination transition, which e.g. allows high resolution spectroscopy on laser trapped atoms^1,2

© 1996 IEEE